MDM Observatory 2.4m Telescope Observer's Report for 2004 Jun 24

Observer(s): Thorstensen, Peters, Sheets
Institution(s): Dartmouth

Instrument: Modspec + echelle CCD

Worked for 9 hours (all night)
Conditions were Mixed most of the night.
Problems were encountered, see the separate trouble report for details.

Seeing and Weather:
   Clouds from 10:00 until 10:30.
   Beg: Seeing 1.5 arcsec, Patchy Clouds, Winds Moderate
   Mid: Seeing 1+ arcsec, Clear, Winds Light & Variable
   End: Seeing 1+ arcsec, Clear, Winds Calm

Observing Summary:

Fair-weather cumulus gave way to clear skies (finally), with
a few minor cloudy intervals in early evening.  Winds tapering
from 25 mph gusts early to calm late.  Decent seeing.  

Trouble!  (1) N mirror petal hung on sky baffle while opening.
Freed this by slewing south and tugging gently on sky baffle
with a stick.  (2) Instrument rotator failed.  It appeared to 
have no power -- no red light, no  clack  when engaged, no 
action.  This limited ability to do targets in the east, and 
to rotate to the parallactic angle.  (3) On the 1.3m, Hill
appears to have gone completely belly-up.  It shows nothing
on the terminal when booted up.

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Submitted on 2004 Jun 25 [5:09:31]